Years of social trial and error had taught me the best way to clear the air between two people was to speak plainly. I liked to think of it as playing poker with my cards face-up on the table.
“Alice, we need to talk. Curious minds want to know, do you want us to have sex?” I said.
My blunt question seemed to take my hunting partner by surprise as she raised her eyebrows and blinked at me. She said nothing for several moments before responding, “Do you mean right now? Can we finish lunch first? Why do you ask?”
“At the meeting this morning you asked me if I would share your bed tonight if you asked nicely. Was that a real question or were you just flirting?” I inquired as I moved to sit at her side.
“I was serious. I wanted to know if you would make love to me.” Alice’s face took on a reddish tint as she blushed, “Dennis, will you make love to me tonight?”
“Be honest. You are a lesbian, and I’m an old fart. Why would you want to have sex with me?” I asked.
She looked at me in silence for the longest time before answering, “I am concerned about my daughter.”
It was my turn to be surprised. “What does your daughter have to do with us having sex?”
“My home is Liberty Mountain, and I’m here because I love my sisters. My daughter has displayed no interest in sexual relations with other women, but she has shown a keen interest in getting to know you in the Biblical sense. I want her to explore her sexuality, and I want her to be true to herself. Star and I have had a few long mother and daughter talks about you. You are the first male she’s met,” Alice turned to face me and looked directly into my eyes.
“I warned her one man is not all men, and I told her I might give my blessings for her to have sex with you, but I would do so only after I’ve had a chance to check you out,” Alice glanced at my private parts.
“Your daughter is still a child. I wouldn’t feel right taking advantage of her that way,” I sighed.
Alice gave me a sharp look, “Bullshit! How old were you when you lost your virginity?”
“I was fifteen, and she was nineteen,” I had a hard time remembering who seduced who.
“So fifteen is old enough for boys, but eighteen is too young for a girl? Sounds like a fucking double standard, pun intended,” she shot back.
“OK. I get it I’m old fashioned. However, I still don’t understand why you would want your daughter to have sex with me,” I studied her eyes and searched for her answer.
“I want the best life for my daughter, and that begins by her being true to herself. If it turns out she likes men, I’m good with that. If she prefers women, I’m also good with that. If she’s bisexual like her mother, that would be fine. I’ll love and support her no matter who she is. Besides, I have a dream of some day being a grandmother,” Alice said with an almost shy smile.
“What about you? Why is it so important that you check me out first?” I was looking for the truth behind her interest in me.
“Because if you turn out to be an asshole like her father, I won’t let you near her, that’s why. He was a lousy, selfish lover who cared nothing for the sexual needs of his partner,” Alice concluded.
We spent the next several minutes in thoughtful silence as we finished lunch and got ready to resume our quest for fresh venison.
Our vantage point on the ridge afforded us a clear view of the deer herd in the valley a thousand feet below. Under the watchful eye of a magnificent stag, a dozen does graze along the banks of the stream flowing across the glen’s floor. It would take all Alice’s driving skills to traverse the pathway to the bottom.
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